An electric chair on exhibit at the Texas Prison Museum in Huntsville, Texas. Between 1924 and 1964, 361 men died in the electric chair. (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan)

(Newser)
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With lethal-injection drugs in short supply and new questions looming about their effectiveness, lawmakers in some death penalty states are considering bringing back relics of a more gruesome past: firing squads, electrocutions, and gas chambers. Most states abandoned those execution methods more than a generation ago, but to some elected officials, the drug shortages and recent legal challenges are beginning to make lethal injection seem too vulnerable to complications.

"This isn't an attempt to time-warp back into the 1850s or the wild, wild West or anything like that," says Missouri state Rep. Rick Brattin, who this month proposed making firing squads an option for executions. "It's just that I foresee a problem, and I'm trying to come up with a solution that will be the most humane yet most economical for our state." A Wyoming lawmaker has also proposed a return to firing squads, while other officials in Missouri have raised the notion of rebuilding the state's gas chamber, and a Virginia lawmaker wants to make electrocution an option if lethal-injection drugs aren't available.

How about going really old school , back to the days of the Roman Empire. Most states have state universities with large stadiums , a few cages , some lions and tigers your good to go. Think of all the marketing possibles for the state , admission fees , food sales , memorabilia , etc. it's a win win.

OrneryPup

Jan 28, 2014 6:45 PM CST

The gas chamber is a horrible way to die. The electric chair isn't much better. If properly done, a firing squad is pretty quick. But a guillotine is faster yet. But if lethal injection is desired, why not OD them on heroin or the like?